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Old gun - No spark
- Thread starter TFLeader
- Start date
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My first guess would be that the frizzen needs to be rehardened.
The second suggestion is to leave a 200 year old rilfle alone. You have verified that it is not loaded?
The second suggestion is to leave a 200 year old rilfle alone. You have verified that it is not loaded?
Ike Godsey
45 Cal.
Grenadier1758 said:
i would back that up.
to reharden a frizzen, give the gun (at least the complete lock!) to a skilled gunsmith. he knows what to do.
i would also suggest, that you give him the gun to check it if it is safe for shooting or not BEFORE you fire it.
ike
Va.Manuf.06
58 Cal.
Good advice from Ike and Grenadier.
Always have someone that knows what they are doing look at an antique rifle before even thinking about shooting it.
Always have someone that knows what they are doing look at an antique rifle before even thinking about shooting it.
jdkerstetter
69 Cal.
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If you really have a 200 year old rifle there, follow the advice given and seek professional help. Even the screws are valuable. Every time you mess with it you could be costing yourself money. If you're not worried about the value then think of the historical significance.
Congratulations and Enjoy, J.D.
Congratulations and Enjoy, J.D.
Many Klatch
69 Cal.
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If you can post pictures of your gun here we would all appreciate it. The first thing to know about your gun is that anything you do to it can significantly decrease it's monetary and historical value.
Cleaning a gun with soap and water or worse yet sanding it to get all the dings out of the stock and then putting a coat of urethane varnish on it can change it from a $5,000 gun (or more) to a $400 dollar gun.
Before you do anything with the gun get us the pictures. Then we can give you advice on what to do and/or not do next.
Many Klatch
Cleaning a gun with soap and water or worse yet sanding it to get all the dings out of the stock and then putting a coat of urethane varnish on it can change it from a $5,000 gun (or more) to a $400 dollar gun.
Before you do anything with the gun get us the pictures. Then we can give you advice on what to do and/or not do next.
Many Klatch
hotoSmile: Agree, the frizzen probably needs hardening.
Shooting an original is a really poor idea.
Working on one without proper knowledge is as bad or worse.
You need professional help/advise. Someone who KNOWS flintlock rifles.
I am too fond of my head and hands to shoot something this old.
Dan
Working on one without proper knowledge is as bad or worse.
You need professional help/advise. Someone who KNOWS flintlock rifles.
I am too fond of my head and hands to shoot something this old.
Dan
Va.Manuf.06
58 Cal.
Dan Phariss said:
And everything attached to the above!
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Dan Phariss said:
what that fellow said ... it's good adice and you shouold take it to heart ... have the gun appraised before you do anything else to it!
jdkerstetter
69 Cal.
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And here's a scenario nobody's addressed: What are the odds that if this gun is 200 years old that it is in original flinlock configuration???? Almost none!
It is more than likely that the gun was converted to percussion at some point and converted back to flint as a vast majority of them have been.....especially since the frizzen won't spark as it's likely a replacement and NEVER hardened.
If that is the case then the gun is NOT SAFE TO SHOOT. Why? Because the normal practice on these "reconversions" is to remove the drum used to convert it to percussion and weld in the hole and drill a new vent. The resulting embrittlement of the iron barrel due to the welding has, most likely, left this gun unsafe.....and that is why many "restorers" don't drill a new vent...so that the gun can't be fired.
Now, you could be lucky and the "restorer" did it correctly and set the barrel back after removing the drum and drilled the vent into "good" barrel. A professional will be able to tell you if that is the case.
YOU NEED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT BEFORE YOU PROCEDE!!! That's my best advice. Enjoy, J.D.
It is more than likely that the gun was converted to percussion at some point and converted back to flint as a vast majority of them have been.....especially since the frizzen won't spark as it's likely a replacement and NEVER hardened.
If that is the case then the gun is NOT SAFE TO SHOOT. Why? Because the normal practice on these "reconversions" is to remove the drum used to convert it to percussion and weld in the hole and drill a new vent. The resulting embrittlement of the iron barrel due to the welding has, most likely, left this gun unsafe.....and that is why many "restorers" don't drill a new vent...so that the gun can't be fired.
Now, you could be lucky and the "restorer" did it correctly and set the barrel back after removing the drum and drilled the vent into "good" barrel. A professional will be able to tell you if that is the case.
YOU NEED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT BEFORE YOU PROCEDE!!! That's my best advice. Enjoy, J.D.
mtmshieldshotmail.com
40 Cal.
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Lock looks like it's from an Eli Whitney Model 1798 musket.
I'll add another recommendation to leave the gun as-is, and hang it on the wall.
Regards,
Mike
I'll add another recommendation to leave the gun as-is, and hang it on the wall.
Regards,
Mike
Guest
Maybe try a flint with an edge on it?
Ft. Jefferson
40 Cal.
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No spark with a gun that old generally means a weak main spring. Frizzens don't go bad with age but springs sure can.
Va.Manuf.06
58 Cal.
AZflyguy said:
Yes, with the "N.Haven" in banner mark on the lock it is definitely a lock from a Whitney contract musket, not a rifle.
The reconversion was not done well. The soft, cast iron frizzen is completely wrong in style though it seems to fit the "new" cast iron pan pretty well. The frizzen spring is the wrong style, does it have spring that allows the frizzen to function? The hammer may be a severely modified old hammer, but again, of the incorrect style. The chief thing that worries me about it is that both the frizzen and frizzen spring appear to be pinned or riveted to the lock rather than properly installed using screws. If I am right, this will make the frizzen hard to remove so you can harden it if you do decide to make the lock functional.
Any photos of the rest of the gun? Please don't think that we are trying to run your gun down, the lock may be the only problem you have with it. If it is still an otherwise complete Whitney musket, it is a valuable smooth bore with good value to a collector of early US martial arms.
